Is Jabari Smith Jr., the former Auburn standout, about to become a bona fide NBA superstar alongside Kevin Durant? When the Houston Rockets pulled off a massive seven-team trade to land the legendary Kevin Durant, a 15-time All-Star and four-time scoring champion, on July 6th, 2026, many wondered: what would this mean for Jabari Smith Jr.? Would he be relegated to the bench? Would his development be stunted?
Well, the answer is a resounding NO! Durant's arrival hasn't just not hurt Smith's game; it seems to have ignited it. In his fourth NBA season, Smith is clocking a career-high average of 34.3 minutes per game. Rockets coach Ime Udoka clearly believes in his potential, starting the 6-foot-11 forward alongside the imposing 6-foot-11 center Alperen Sengun, forming what's been dubbed the league's longest frontcourt. This pairing is a fascinating experiment, and so far, it's paying dividends.
And this is the part most people miss... It's not just about playing time; it's about production. Smith is currently riding a six-game streak of scoring at least 15 points per game, the longest such streak since he joined Houston as the third overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He'd previously achieved five-game streaks twice, once in March 2023 and again in November 2023. But this feels different. This feels like a genuine breakout.
"I think it’s just us playing together," Smith explained, highlighting the importance of chemistry and understanding. "Feeling out each other, knowing where to be at... It’s going to take time. So I think it’s just us playing together. Us being on the floor more, like, it’s just more of a natural flow. Folks know where to be at. If you ain’t in the right spot, you feel it. So I think it’s just more so us just playing together and the feel type of thing.”
Smith's stats speak volumes. He's averaging 15.8 points and 1.9 assists per game, and his shooting percentages are all career highs: 38.4% from three-point range and a very respectable 53.8% from two-point range. He's becoming a reliable offensive weapon, both inside and out.
Even Durant himself is impressed. "We’re going to need that going forward," Durant said. "Me and Bari talk a lot about taking the shots that we want to take, never letting the defense dictate what we do out there and just playing, using our length, using our size to get shots off, and Bari has just been tough to stop down in that post, knocking it down to three, so doing everything for us. So we’re going to need that from him.” Durant’s endorsement is a huge vote of confidence and suggests a blossoming partnership.
In the Rockets' recent victory against the Indiana Pacers, Smith showcased his all-around game, racking up 21 points and 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double in the last nine games, along with two assists and three blocked shots. He's not just scoring; he's contributing in every facet of the game.
Coach Udoka was effusive in his praise: "He was great. He picked his spots when he got the shots. He’s going to take those all the time. But … he was able to free up a little bit and take advantage of some matchups. Went to iso postups when he had them, and then the offensive rebounds are great. That energy and effort from him, it kind of rubs off on the group.” Udoka emphasizes Smith's impact goes beyond the stat sheet, influencing the team's overall energy and effort.
With a 20-10 record and a three-game winning streak, the Houston Rockets are currently fourth in the Western Conference standings. Their trajectory has been steadily upward since Smith joined the team. In his rookie season, they managed a 22-60 record, a slight improvement from the previous season. His second season saw a significant jump to 41-41, and last season they achieved a 52-30 record, securing their first playoff berth in five years. This upward trend strongly suggests Smith is a key piece of their long-term success.
But here's where it gets controversial... Is Jabari Smith Jr. truly becoming the star many predicted he would be? Or is he simply benefiting from playing alongside Durant and Sengun, receiving easier looks and more open opportunities? Some might argue that his stats are inflated due to the attention defenses must pay to his more established teammates. Others would counter that he's seizing the opportunity and developing into a legitimate scoring threat.
What do you think? Is Jabari Smith Jr. on the path to superstardom, or is his current success a product of his environment? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
